well this is kind of a different topic really a new cold/hot war but w/e its a good 1. If Russia started a war the only way i can see hem winning is by starving the west of resources. Since Gorbachov their defence budget has been cut massively and they dont have the money or men or equipment to combat NATO. However the theory is that If Russia could take over and hold onto the Middle East then they control something like 96% of the worlds oil and so could starve the West into submission.